When she saw the ball hit the ground, Tesia Thomas had to pause for a brief moment.

After the five-set battle her team endured four days earlier in the state semifinals, there was no way the championship could be over so quickly. Had the West York girls' volleyball team really just swept its way to a title?

It had.

The Bulldogs cruised to the PIAA Class 3A championship with a 3-0 win — 25-22, 25-15, 25-20 — over District 10 champion Warren at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday. It's the first state title in program history.

"When (the ref) blew that last whistle, everyone looked at each other like, 'Is this actually over? Is this actually the present happening?,'" Thomas, the team's star middle hitter, said. "It's wonderful to win it with these girls because they're like a family to me.

"It still doesn't feel real."

West York players celebrate one of the final points of their PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 over Warren.(Photo: Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record)

West York (28-1) is the fifth YAIAA girls' volleyball team to win a state title, and the second since the turn of the century, along with the 2013 Delone Catholic squad.

This group is also the fourth West York squad to win a team state title, following the 2013 and 2012 baseball teams and the 1978 cross country team.

Coming off an incredibly close win over Allentown Central Catholic in the semifinals on Tuesday, West York clearly looked like the better team against Warren. Though the first game was close with both teams going on a series of runs, the Bulldogs dominated the second and held off a late rally in the third.

Fittingly, senior outside hitter Julia Rill registered the winning kill. After missing all of her junior season with a torn ACL, Rill was named YAIAA Division II Player of the Year by league coaches this season.

"I cannot explain to you the feeling," Rill said. "I never expected any of this to happen.

"Before the last play started, I said to (setter) Taylor (Morley), 'This is going to be it. We're going to finally make it.' It just happened, and I didn't know what to do and I fell to the floor."

While the phrase "team win" can often become a cliche in sports, West York's effort on Saturday — and throughout the season — really was. Though Rill (12 kills, eight digs) and Thomas (11 kills, three digs) shined as usual, the Bulldogs got production throughout the lineup.

Junior Alanya Harris dominated early on and finished with four kills, three digs and one block. Senior Gianna Krinock, under the radar as usual, picked up seven kills and 10 digs.

Even West York's role players made big plays, with senior Kiersten Bowser coming up with two huge blocks and a clutch kill, junior Georgianna Kahley (three aces) leading the team's terrific effort from the service line and junior libero Kambrie Hepler picking up 11 digs.

And as usual, senior setter Morley was steady throughout with 30 assists, eight digs and three kills.

"Most teams have one hitter they can go to, but, since we have so many, I can have a field day," Morley said. "I just put the ball where I think we can get the kill and I trust them."

Added head coach Joe Ramp: "This is the best we've played all season long. If you look at the stats, (Lydia Latimer) on Warren had 400 kills this year. You know where the ball is going to go. If you look at us, everyone is around 250, 200 or high 100s in kills. Who you going to pinpoint? You really can't."

Warren coach Mike Dolan admitted that the Bulldogs' combination of talent up the middle and on the outside made them difficult to adjust against.

"Besides that, they were making digs on everything," Dolan said. "We had to max the opportunities we were going to get, and I don't think we did."

A year after falling just short in a District 3 final and a state semifinal, West York found plenty of redemption this season. The Bulldogs will graduate a lot of talent including Rill, Morley and Krinock, but they bring back two dangerous hitters in Thomas and Harris along with Hepler at libero.

Throughout the postseason, Ramp told reporters that the Bulldogs weren't focused on winning a state title and were simply taking things game by game. He even said West York had already won "our championship" after the state semis.

Was he saying anything different to his players?

"Everything he said to you guys he said to us," Rill said. "He just said (before Saturday) that this was it and we had nothing to lose. Just to give it our all."

Added Ramp: "I have a great relationship with these girls. Not just as a coach but as a brother, parent, a friend. I wish every coach had the opportunity to coach what I just had this year. This is definitely a game and a team I'm going to remember for life."

The West York bench starts to celebrate in the closing points of the Bulldogs' 3-0 win over Warren Saturday to claim the PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York celebrates after a point late in the third game of Saturday's PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship. The Bulldogs defeated Warren 3-0 at Cumberland Valley High School to win the title. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York's Taylor Morley (17) and Julia Rill (8) wait for a teammate's serve in the third game of their PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championships Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 against Warren. West York won the state title in three games. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York's Alayna Harris (23) and Georgianna Kahley throw up a double block against Warren's Celia Chase in Saturday's PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship. West York won in three games. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

A Warren player tries to split the West York double block of Julia Rill (8) and Alayna Harris, but hits it right into Harris' hands Saturday in the third game of the PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship. West York won the title in three games on Nov. 17, 2018 at Cumberland Valley High School. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York's Julia Rill hits over the block of Warren's Alexis Nyquist (5) and Julia Lobdell (1) in the third game of the PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 at Cumberland Valley High School. West York won in three games. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York's Alayna Harris (23) tries to hit through the Warren double block during the first game of Saturday's PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship. The Bulldogs won the title at Cumberland Valley High School. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York fans cheer as the Bulldogs pull ahead in the first game of Saturday's PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship at Cumberland Valley High School. The Bulldogs won the title in three games over Warren. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York's Alayna Harris collects a solo block on a Warren overset in the first game of the Bulldogs' 3-0 win in the PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship. The match was played Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 at Cumberland Valley High School. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York's Kiersten Bowser (12) and Alayna Harris (23) set up a double block against Warren Saturday in the first game of the PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York's captains listen to the officials before Saturday's PiAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship at Cumberland Valley High School. The Bulldogs defeated Warren 3-0 for the state title. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York's Georgianna Kahley prepares to pass a Warren serve near the end of Saturday's PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship at Cumberland Valley High School. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York fans cheer and take pictures as the Bulldogs are awarded their PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship trophy Saturday at Cumberland Valley High School. The Bulldogs defeated Warren 3-0 for the title. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York fans cheer as the Bulldogs are announced as the PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball champs after they defeated Warren 3-0 Saturday at Cumberland Valley High School. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York fans cheer as the Bulldogs come to the bench for the final timeout of Saturday's PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship. West York defeated Warren 3-0. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York libero Kambrie Hepler serves in the final game of the Bulldogs' 3-0 win over Warren in Saturday's PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship at Cumberland Valley High School. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

West York's Gianna Krinock goes up for a spike in the third game against Warren in the PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball championship at Cumberland Valley High School. West York won 3-0. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record

The West York bench clears as players create a dogpile after the Bulldogs defeated Warren 3-0 to win the PIAA Class 3A girls' volleyball title Saturday at Cumberland Valley High School. Shelly Stallsmith,York Daily Record